28 December

(UTC+1)

Events on this day in the life of Manfred von Richthofen

Christmas on the Somme

Die Erinnerungen der Mutter des roten Kampffliegers Kunigunde Freifrau von Richthofen. Im Verlag Ullstein - Berlin, 1937.??p. ??

28 December 1916
Pronville

On the Somme, 28 December 1916 “Dear Mum! Dad and Lothar were both with me for Christmas Eve. – It was a memorable celebration. A Christmas like that in the field is more fun than you might think at home. Our celebration consisted only of a Christmas tree and a very good meal. Lothar made his first solo flight the following day. The first launch is a similar event. Yesterday I shot down my fifteenth Englishman after making a double two days before Christmas, No. 13 and 14. Your obedient son Manfred.”

Peace talks with Russia

The dramatic true story of the Red Baron, Wiliam E Burrows, 1972, Mayflower Books??p. 170??

28 December 1917
until February 1st
Brest-Litovsk

“The Richthofen brothers arrived in Brest-Litovsk in mid January, and had their first look at Bolsheviks, which was fascinating to the unworldly young Prussians. Contrary to the German officers, whos grey dress uniforms and black boots were immaculate, the people’s deputies took great pride in wearing the symbols of their revolution – workers’ and peasants’ clothing, dirty and foul-smelling from having been worn on the farms and in the factories. It was not fun for the Richthofens to mingle with the Communists, but it was interesting, at least at first. Manfred became particularly fascinated by Madam Bicenko, undoubtedly because he was amazed to see a woman negotiate something important as a peace treaty. He and Lothar also met Count Ottokar Czernin, the leader of the Austro-Hungarian delegation, with whom they talked about chivalry and air fighting. They soon tired of the pomp and politics, however, and, since their presence had been noted by most of the Bolsheviks (without noticeable effect), they were excused for bison- and elk-hunting in the snow-covered forest of Bialowieza, which had belonged to the Czar, but which was then held by the Germans.

After that, Lothar visited Schweidnitz and Manfred went to Adlershof to look at new scouts.

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